Swivel electrical connector

Abstract

An electrical connector providing a plurality of electrical contacts and which allows for 360° rotation, while providing interruption free electrical continuity, is disclosed. A first set of electrical contacts is movably connected to a second set of electrical contacts through the employment of movably engaging terminal and conductive pads. The two pads are permitted to rotate relative to one another. Hence, the two connectors are permitted to rotate relative to one another. The electrical connector may be provided with a universal joint assembly. The universal joint assembly would permit the first and second connectors to be angularly displaced relative to one another and about a respective arbitrary axis. Preferably, the axes extend normal to one another.

I claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector which is rotatable, while providing interruption-free electrical continuity, comprising: a plurality of electrical terminals including at least a first set of electrical terminals and a second set of electrical terminals;   a terminal pad connected to said first set of electrical terminals;   a conductive pad connected to said second set of electrical terminals, said conductive pad being engageable with said terminal pad, said conductive pad further being rotatable relative to said terminal pad so as to rotate said second set of electrical terminals relative to said first set of electrical terminals;   a first housing for accommodating said first set of electrical terminals, said terminal pad, and said conductive pad;   an electrical connector assembly extending from said first housing, said electrical connector assembly having at least a first set of contacts being connected to said first set of electrical terminals, said electrical connector assembly includes an audio plug; and   a second housing for accommodating said second set of electrical terminals, said second housing being rotatably engageable with said first housing.   
     
     
       2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein said first housing further includes a universal joint assembly, said first and second housings being angularly displaceable relative to one another, said first housing is angularly displaceable about a first axis and said second housing is angularly displaceable about a second axis. 
     
     
       3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein said universal joint assembly is structured and configured such that said first axis extends normal to said second arbitrary axis. 
     
     
       4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, further includes a second set of contacts disposed within said second housing and connected to said second set of terminals, said second housing and said second set of contacts cooperatively form a receiving jack. 
     
     
       5. The electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein said receiving jack includes an audio receiving jack. 
     
     
       6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, further includes a cable including a set of conductors, said cable extending from said second housing, and said set of conductors being connected to said second set of terminals. 
     
     
       7. An electrical connector which is rotatable, while providing interruption-free electrical continuity, comprising: first and second contacts structured to form an audio plug;   first and second electrical terminals, said first and second contacts of said audio plug being electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively;   a terminal pad including third and fourth electrical terminals, said third and fourth terminals being of a resilient electrically conductive material, said third and fourth terminals being electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively;   a conductive pad having at least a first and a second side, said conductive pad including at least a first and a second conductive ring located on said first side of said conductive pad, an insulating material electrically isolating said first conductive ring from said second conductive ring, and at least a first and a second electrically conductive lead extending from said second side of the conductive pad, said first and second conductive rings being rotatably engageable with said third and fourth terminals, respectively, and said first and second electrically conductive leads being electrically connected to said first and second conductive rings, respectively;   third and fourth electrical contacts, said third and fourth electrical contacts being electrically connected to said first and second electrically conductive leads, respectively;   a first housing having an interior for accommodating said first and second electrical terminals and said terminal pad therein, said first and second electrical terminals and said terminal pad being fixed relative to said housing, said first and second electrical terminals further being fixed relative to said third and fourth electrical terminals; and   a second housing having an interior for accommodating said first and second electrically conductive leads, said conductive pad and said first and second contacts of said audio plug being fixed relative to said housing, said first and second electrically conductive leads further being fixed relative to said third and fourth electrical contacts, said second housing being rotatably engageable with said first housing, providing interruption-free electrical continuity between said first and second contacts of said audio plug and said third and fourth contacts, respectively.   
     
     
       8. The electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein said first housing further includes a universal joint assembly, said first and second housings being angularly displaceable relative to one another, said first housing is angularly displaceable about a first axis and said second housing is angularly displaceable about a second axis. 
     
     
       9. The electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein said first housing includes at least a first end and a first pair of diametrically disposed projections projecting from said first end of said housing, each one of said first pair of diametrically disposed projections having an aperture passing therethrough, and wherein said universal joint assembly includes at least:   a sleeve having a first end and a second pair of diametrically disposed projections projecting from said first end of said sleeve, each one of said second pair of projections having an aperture passing therethrough;   a universal joint member having opposite ends and first and second holes passing through said opposite ends, said first hole mutually aligning with said apertures in said first pair of projections and said second hole mutually aligning with said apertures in said second pair of projections; and   a first and second pin, said first pin passing through said first hole in mutual alignment with said apertures in said first pair of projections, and said second pin passing through said second hole in mutual alignment with said apertures in said second pair of projections.   
     
     
       10. The electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein said universal joint assembly is structured and configured such that said first axis extends normal to said second axis. 
     
     
       11. The electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein said third and fourth contacts are structured and configured and arranged within said second housing so as to form a receiving audio jack. 
     
     
       12. The electrical connector according to claim 7, further includes an electrical cable including at least a first and second conductor, said cable extending from said second housing, said first and second conductors being electrically connected to said third and fourth contacts. 
     
     
       13. An electrical connector which is rotatable, while providing interruption free electrical continuity, comprising: at least a first and second contact;   at least a first and second electrical terminal, said first and second contacts being electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively;   a terminal pad including at least a third and fourth electrical terminal, said third and fourth terminals being of a resilient electrically conductive material, said third and fourth terminals being electrically connected to said first and second terminals, respectively;   a conductive pad having a first and second side, said conductive pad including at least a first and second conductive ring located on said first side of said conductive pad, an insulating material electrically isolating said first conductive ring from said second conductive ring, and at least a first and second electrically conductive lead extending from said second side of conductive pad, said first and second conductive rings being rotatably engageable with said third and fourth terminals, respectively, and said first and second leads being electrically connected to said first and second conductive rings, respectively;   at least a third and fourth electrical contact, said third and fourth electrical contacts being electrically connected to said first and second leads, respectively;   a first housing having at least a first end and a first pair of diametrically disposed projections projecting from said first end of said housing, each one of said first pair of diametrically disposed projections having an aperture passing therethrough, said housing further having an interior for accommodating said first and second electrical terminals and said terminal pad therein, said first and second electrical terminals and said terminal pad being fixed relative to said housing, said first and second electrical terminals further being fixed relative to said third and fourth electrical terminals;   a second housing having an interior for accommodating said first and second leads, said conductive pad and said first and second contacts being fixed relative to said housing, said first and second leads further being fixed relative to said third and fourth electrical contacts, said second housing being rotatably engageable with said first housing, providing interruption free electrical continuity between said first and second contacts and said third and fourth contacts, respectively; and   a universal joint assembly including at least:   a sleeve having a first end and a second pair of diametrically disposed projections projecting from said first end of said sleeve, each one of said second pair of projections having an aperture passing therethrough;   a universal joint member having opposite ends and first and second holes passing through said opposite ends, said first hole mutually aligning with said apertures in said first pair of projections and said second hole mutually aligning with said apertures in said second pair of projections; and   a first and second pin, said first pin passing through said first hole in mutual alignment with said apertures in said first pair of projections, and said second pin passing through said second hole in mutual alignment with said apertures in said second pair of projections.